Flashlight



Patented May 2, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FLASHLIGHT Application April 10, 1936, Serial No. 73,657

3 Claims.

This invention relates to hand lamps of the type which comprises a casing for the reception of a source of energy and a head mounted for rotation on one end of the casing and containing an illuminating element. More particularly, the invention is concerned with a novel hand lamp of this type in which the head is adapted to be fixed in various angular positions relative to the casing.

In various types of hand lamps, such as those in which an illuminating bulb is arranged in the head to extend in a direction other than an axial one with respect to the casing, it is frequently desirable tofix the head in a definite angular position on the casing in order that the light beams emitted therefrom may extend in a certain desired direction relative to the switch or other operating means on the casing, when the lamp is being used. In hand lamps as manufactured heretofore in commercial production, this result can not be obtained, since in. these lamps the head is generally screw threaded on one end of the casing and is limited to one fixed angular position thereon, as determined by the screw threads or other fixed parts which limit the extent to which the head may be screwed on the casing.

The present invention is directed to the provision of a hand lamp which has simple and inexpensive means whereby the head may be fixed in any desired angular position with respect to the casing, either by the manufacturer or by the user, this result being accomplished in the new lamp by a simple manipulation of parts. The means provided for fixing the head in a predetermined position on the casing may be adapted for use in the present commercial forms of hand lamps and when so adapted may be readily attached thereto.

In the new hand lamp the head is secured to the casing in such a manner to permit relative rotation of these members, and one of the members carries adjustable means adapted to contact with a fixed portion of the other when the members are in a predetermined relative angular position, thereby preventing further rotation of the head in one direction with respect to the casing. Preferably, the head is secured to one end of the casing by screw threaded engagement therewith and the latter is provided with adjustable means in the form of a bushing threaded into or upon. the casing in position to engage a fixed portion of the head when the head and casing are screwed together. Thus, by adjusting the position of the bushing with respect to the casing, the bushing may be made to engage the head when the latter is in any desired angular position and prevent the head from. being threaded farther on to the casing, and when the head is screwed tightly against the bushing the latter serves to frictionally lock the head in its desired position against rotation in either direction.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a sectional view of one form of the new hand lamp with some of the parts removed;

Fig. 2 is a view in section 'of the adjustable means for the head shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the adjustable means shown in Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged View in section on the line 34 of Fig. 1 with the head removed, part of the section being broken away.

While I have illustrated and will describe in detail a hand lamp: in the form of a flashlight wherein the head is adapted to support the electric light bulb at an angle to the axis of the casing, it will be understood that this form is referred to merely for purposes of illustration and that my invention is applicable to any form of hand lamp in which it is desirable to fix the head in a predetermined angular position relative to the casing.

In the drawing, the number it designates the upper end of a cylindrical casing for receiving one or more battery units (not shown). Secured to the inner, wall of the casing is the usual resilient conducting strip: ll having a curved upper end 12. The other end of the conducting strip is connected to the lower terminal of the battery through a switch or other suitable means (not shown). A sleeve l3 fits over the upper end of the casing Ill to which it is secured in a suitable manner. This sleeve is provided with a threaded upper portion it and an annular bead l5 adjacent the top of the casing.

Mounted on the upper end of casing I 6 for rotation thereon is a hollow head IS, the two members being secured together by the threaded engagement of sleeve I3 in an internally threaded boss I! at the lower end of the head. The head I6 is adapted to receive an electric light bulb and socket and conventional reflecting means (not shown). It is provided with a lateral opening l8 through which the beam from the electric light bulb is directed. Electric current for the light bulb is supplied to the socket through two conducting strips I9 and 2B which are mounted on the upper face of a circular insulating base 2| securely fixed in the interior of the head adjacent the hollow boss IT. The lower end of conducting strip I9 is electrically connected through insulating base 2| to a conducting ring 22 mounted on the lower face of the base in position to engage the curved upper end of conductor while the other conductor strip- 20 is similarly connected to a central contact member 23 secured on the lower face of the base and adapted to engage the central contact at the top of a battery inserted in the casing l0.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that the upper contact constituting one terminal of a battery carried in the casing and the conductor I I which leads to the other terminal of the battery, will maintain engagement with central contact 23 and conducting ring 22, respectively, in any angular position of the head IS with respect to the casing. The resilient upper end |2 of conductor maintains contact with ring 22 as the head is moved axially with respect to the casing, and in order to assure engagement of central contact 23 with the corresponding contact of a battery in the casing for any axial position of the head on the casing, the lower end of the casing may be provided with spring-pressed means of conventional form (not shown) for urging the battery upwardly against contact 23.

Although the construction described thusfar permits angular adjustment of the head on the casing while maintaining the conducting elements in operative relation, it will be observed that it provides for only one fixed position of the head with respect to the casing, which is determined by screwing the members together until the upper end of sleeve I3 contacts the bottom of base 2| in the head. In order to permit the head to be securely fixed in any angular position on the casing, the latter is provided with adjustable means in the form of a bushing 24 threaded in the upper end of sleeve l3 in engagement with the internally threaded portion M of the sleeve. The upper end of the bushing is provided with an internal circumferential flange 25 adapted to seat on the lower face of the base 2| outside the conducting ring 22, when the head is secured to a predetermined position on the casing. Preferably, the bushing is made to fit tightly within the sleeve l3 and is provided with diametrically opposed slots 26 in the flange 25, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, which are formed to receive parts of a spanner wrench or the like for adjusting the position of the bushing in the sleeve.

In fixing the position of the head IS on the casing, bushing 24 is firstscrewed in the sleeve to a position Where its flange 25 will contact the base 2| of the head when the latter is in the desired position on the casing, and the head is then screwed on the casing as far as the flange 25 will permit. By screwing the head tightly against the bushing, the frictional engagement of the flange 25 of the bushing with the base 2| of the head and the friction between the threads on the sleeve |3 and the head, will effectively lock the head against rotation in either direction on the casing. If desired, after the bushing 24 has been adjusted to determine the desired position that the head will occupy when screwed on the casing, an indent 21 may be formed in the side wall of sleeve |3 by a suitable tool to provide an internal bead on the sleeve engaging the bushing. The engagement of the bead thus formed with the bushing serves to hold the parts more securely against relative movement when the head is screwed on the casing.

It will be observed that with the new lamp, the head may be held securely in any desired angular position on the casing, the adjustable means permitting the fixing of the head against rotation by a few simple operations. The adjustable means may be manufactured as a unit at low cost and may be adapted for ready attachment to the standard forms of flashlights.

While I have described and illustrated only one form of the new handlamp, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto, but includes various other forms of handlamps within its scope.

I claim:

1. A hand lamp comprising a casing, a head secured to one end of the casing and rotatable relative thereto, and abutment means adjustable in said casing lengthwise thereof and adapted to abut a part fixed to the head for adjustably and positively limiting the rotational movement of said head in one direction to determine the angular position thereof relative to the casing.

2. A hand lamp comprising a casing having screw threads at one end thereof, a head having screw threaded engagement therewith, and means secured to the casing and adjustable longitudinally with respect thereto for limiting the rotational movement of said head in one direction relative to the casing.

3. In a hand lamp comprising a casing and a head in screw-threaded engagement with one end of the casing and having a passage extending at an angle to the axis of the casing, a bushing threaded in said end of the casing and adapted for engagement with a member fixed on said head to positively hold the head against rotation in one direction relative to the casing.

WALTER R. KOPP. 

